Tehran arrests two girls for dancing at Iran-Iraq war memorial

Iranian authorities say two girls were detained by police, after they recorded themselves dancing at a Tehran monument honoring those who died in the Iran-Iraq war.

The video, which has gone viral online, features the two girls, dressed in jeans, purportedly dancing at the "Monument to the Unknown Martyrs of the Sacred Defence" in Tehran.

Authorities have criticized their attire as "inappropriate" and have since blocked both girls' Instagram accounts.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, dancing has been officially prohibited in Iran, with clerics condemning it as a "sinful act" and "an act of lust." Acts of self-expression are also heavily policed.

During the 2022 nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, young girls played a central role in the demonstrations. Videos showed schoolgirls tearing up textbooks depicting the Supreme Leaders of the Islamic Republic. In another display of dissent, young Iranians filmed themselves knocking turbans off clerics' heads, to show their rejection of the Islamic Republic's rule.

Last September, Iranian authorities took legal action against actress Sahar Dolatshahi for allegedly "dancing" in a scene in the television drama series Dariush.

Despite stringent regulations, many Iranians persist in practicing cultural traditions like ethnic dance, which the government describes as "rhythmic movements" to sidestep the term "dance."